To The Golf Courses of Yesteryear

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Reading Golf Club.

The first Reading Club was formed at a meeting held at the Queen’s Hotel on Saturday February 11th 1899.

Amongst those present were; Mr E M Fletcher, Dr G M Wilcockson, Mr Hugh Hawkins, Major Nelson, Mr Herbert Sutton, Rev W C Eppstein, Mr R F L Holme, Mr Seon, Mr A L Goadby, Mr C H Dodd, Mr A C Bartholomew, Mr J Sanger, Colonel Bazett, Mr A S Cooper, Mr S Wheeler junior, Mr S Hayward and others. Mr Fletcher was elected chairman. Mr Walter Palmer’s offer of ground for the course at Norcot Farm was considered and accepted. The subscription was to be £2/2/0 a year for men and £1/1/0 for ladies. It was to be a nine hole course to start with but It was hoped to eventually extend it to 18 holes. Mr Seon was appointed Hon secretary. The professional was Albert Bryant. The course was still appearing prior to WW1.

Below, result of a one sided match played at Reading against Ewelme on Wednesday 10th October 1900.

Reading Golf Club

Ewelme Golf Club

S S Wollaston

0

E R Morres

4

D A T Wilmot

1

L Palmer

0

A C Bartholomew (Half)

0

W Neil (Half)

0

E M Fletcher

6

F R Hedges

0

H A Copeland

6

F E Hedges

0

G E Seon

6

W G Curtis

0

Com F L Laurence

6

S A Bennett

0

Capt C J Baker

2

Reverend E B Mackay

0

27

4

In 1903 the secretary was G E Seon.

Result of the monthly competition for the Walter Palmer Challenge Cup played on Wednesday February 4th 1903.

H E Wallis

101

20

81

S S Wollaston

85

3

82

W M Childs

107

24

83

F W Keeble

109

24

85

S W Laurence

106

21

85

G E Seon

94

8

86

A L Goadby

107

20

87

S Hayward

105

18

87

Capt F L Lawrence RN

102

13

89

W M Dimbleby

109

18

91

R Timberg

115

24

91

A C Bartholomew

100

8

92

R Ritson

112

20

92

H Ferguson

132

24

108

The monthly ladies competition for the W Berkeley Monck Challenge Cup played on Thursday February 5th 1903.

Mrs Reynolds

109

25

84

Miss B Wallis

111

25

86

Miss A Weedon

113

18

95

Miss H M Philbrick

149

25

124

The fourth annual meeting was held in the pavilion on Wednesday 18th March 1903, the president, W Berkeley Monck, in the chair. The secretary’s report showed that membership had increased, and the course was now much busier. A further three year extension had been added to the lease. The question of extending the course to 18 holes was raised, the matter was referred to the committee for consideration and report. The following officers were elected; president, W Berkeley Monck; secretary, P W Howse; treasurer, S G Collier; committee – A C Bartholomew, H A Copeland, W M Dimbleby, E M Fletcher, S Hayward, Capt F L Laurence, R.N; H J Lawrence; R Ritson; G E Seon and S S Wollaston. A vote of thanks was made to the retiring secretary, Mr G E Seon, after four years service.

On Saturday 26th March 1903 Mr A Bowman Smith of the Reading Club won a competition played on the private course of Mr Arthur W Sutton, Buckleberry Place, Woolhampton. Mr A Bowman-Smith playing off a 16 handicap won with a bogey score of 4down. Mr Sutton had given a Challenge Cup to be competed for annually for players of the Reading and Crookham Golf Clubs.

A pre-WW1 picture of the Reading Golf Club clubhouse.

In June 1914 the semi-final of the President’s Cup was played. F Neale beat S Oades by 2up; N W Mitchelmore beat A J W Pym on the twentieth. In the final F Neale beat N Mitchelmore by 4&3.

Article from the Reading Mercury Saturday April 21st 1917. “Reading Golf Club To Be Closed – The owner of the land having decided not to renew the lease of the ground in Grovelands Road, a general meeting of the members was held at the clubhouse on Saturday last at 6.30, a considerable number being present. It was decided to realise the assets of the club at once, and after gratuities to the staff and payment of liabilities to devote the balance to some charitable object to be decided by the committee. It is to be regretted that this old-established club should have to be closed at such short notice, as a golf club in such close proximity to the town was undoubtedly an attraction to the inhabitants.”

The course was situated were the Ranikhet Primary School is today. Grid reference SU68410,73560, co-ordinates 468410,173560